Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that causes spots and pimples that appears on the face but can also appear at the back, shoulders or neck. It usually occurs at puberty and can leave scars. Although it is more common among teenagers, it can affect people of all ages
One of the main causes is too much oil production and the hair follicles is blocked by oil and dead skin cells. The lesser known cause is bacteria and also due to hormonal changes. That is why when a patient walks into the pharmacy, one of the main products that the pharmacist dispense is the antibiotic type topical application which is to be applied to the spots twice daily after cleansing the face.
Other than these, there are some other triggers such as stress, during menstruation (for the ladies), and even some medications.
Your diet can also affect acne, consuming certain foods including carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, bagels and chips may worsen acne. Further study is needed to examine whether people with acne would benefit from following specific dietary restrictions.
Stress itself doesn’t cause acne but if you already have acne stress may make it worse.
Myth: Chocolate and greasy foods can cause more acne. Eating chocolate or greasy food has little to no effect on acne.
Myth : Hygiene. Acne isn't caused by dirty skin. In fact, scrubbing the skin too hard or cleansing with harsh soaps or chemicals irritates the skin and can make acne worse.
How to manage/control acne?
Have a skincare regime of washing once or twice a day with mild cleansers.
Products containing glycolic acid or one of the other alpha hydroxy acids are also helpful in clearing the skin by causing the superficial layer of the skin to peel.
Consult your doctor/pharmacist for more information on how to treat acne and lifestyle changes that need to be made.
Disclaimer: The information provided is not meant to replace medical diagnosis and viewers are advised to seek medical guidance where necessary
